WORK IN HOTEL

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22508, 17 November 1944, Page 2

WORK IN HOTEL

WAITRESSES AT VARIANCE A great part of the afternoon sitting of the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee in Hamilton yesterday was occupied in hearing an appeal by Mrs Violet I. Copley, shop assistant, against her former employer, Dominion Breweries, Ltd., being granted permission by the manpower officer to terminate her employment as waitress at the Hamilton Hotel. Mr J. C. Taylor appeared for the employer- and Mr Ansell, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union, represented the appellant It transpired in evidence that while Mrs' Copley was on leave, and had overstayed it by a week, the other waitresses told the manager’s wife that they would not work with Mrs Copley. Threat to Leave The manpower officer stated he had agreed to the termination of Mrs Copley’s employment on the representations of the manager’s wife, who said the other six waitresses threatened to walk out if Mrs Copley returned. She felt she owed a duty to the guests to maintain the service and rather than risk dislocation of the hotel work she asked that Mrs Copley be dismissed. Mrs Connell, the manager’s wife, said Mrs Copley was a very efficient waitress, and she was sorry to let her go. She denied offering Mrs Copley the head waitress’ position at £3 a week. Supporting evidence was given by waitresses, and Mrs Copley declared she blamed Mrs O’Donnell, the head waitress, for the trouble, and Mrs Connell for supporting her attitude. The other waitresses were, she said, not antagonistic to her, and the witness finished her evidence with the declaration that she did not want her job back under the circumstances. The committee deferred decision.